Manchester United Foundation

RvP offers advice to young Reds

Robin van Persie met young players who are to represent Manchester United at his International Tournament in Holland this weekend.

00:00, 21 May 2013

Robin van Persie offers advice to young Reds

Just days after the Dutchman was crowned Fans’ Player of the Year and also picked up the trophy for Goal of the Year at the club’s annual Player of the Year Awards, he greeted ten lucky boys from Manchester United Foundation partner primary schools at the first-team training ground in Carrington and offered words of advice and good luck.

The Red striker high-fived the youngsters and told them, “I want you to go and have a fantastic time and enjoy this wonderful experience.”

The players, aged 10-11, have been chosen to take part in the tournament after showcasing their footballing talents at Foundation training sessions and playing for their school teams. Accompanied by Foundation coaches, they will travel to Rotterdam to take part in a training day on Friday before Saturday’s tournament at the Feyenoord Academy. They will face international teams from South Africa, Germany, Holland, Belgium and the UK as they compete for the esteemed International Robin van Persie Tournament trophy.

Following the visit, Louie Thorpe from Cadishead Primary School in Salford commented, “Being here today is the best feeling I’ve ever had and going to Holland will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Meeting van Persie was the best feeling I’ve had yet; he said that hopefully he will make an appearance at the tournament and to make sure we win.”

Eoin Ritchie from St. Theresa’s Primary School in Trafford added, “I’m really excited about the tournament; I was really nervous when I got chosen but when my dad said I was allowed to go I was so happy. Today has been really fun; I support United but never thought I’d get the chance to meet Robin van Persie.”

Cadishead and St.Theresa’s primary schools are partnered with the Manchester United Foundation through its Hub of the Community programme, which places full time football coaches in high schools across Greater Manchester to work with pupils from the secondary school and its feeder primary schools to build lasting relationships in the local community. Find out more here.